Welcoming Impact Manager Kelly Lelapinyokul

At City Year Bay Area, we're excited to welcome Kelly Lelapinyokul to our team as our newest Impact Manager.

A Bay Area native, Kelly brings firsthand experience serving students, leading after-school programs, and supporting young people through both academic and personal growth. Her passion for educational equity, commitment to service, and focus on creating supportive environments make her a wonderful addition to our team as we prepare for another impactful year alongside our Student Success Coaches.

As with all our our team members, were excited to learn more about what inspired Kelly to join City Year Bay Area and what she's looking forward to in her new role.

Tell us a little about yourself!

I'm a Bay Area local, born and raised on the Peninsula, and I attended Santa Clara University. I'm excited to continue serving the communities that helped shape me while supporting the next generation of student leaders.

What made you want to work at City Year?

Coming out of my undergraduate experience, I knew I wanted to do work that would help address educational inequities and contribute to meaningful, lasting change.

I was especially drawn to City Year because I see the organization as a pioneer in the nonprofit sector, creating lasting models that demonstrate the power of strong partnerships with schools and communities. I was particularly inspired by the way Student Success Coaches are embedded throughout the school environment, building consistent relationships that help students thrive and become their best selves.

What unique experience do you bring to City Year?

Before joining City Year Bay Area, I completed a year of service as an AmeriCorps member with another nonprofit, working directly in East San José schools as an academic advisor for middle school students. That experience taught me the importance of providing students with well-rounded academic and personal support.

Since then, I've continued developing my leadership skills as a Site Director for an after-school program. Together, these experiences have prepared me to support our AmeriCorps members throughout their service year while helping create a meaningful and rewarding experience for everyone involved.

What are you most excited about at City Year?

I'm most excited about helping build a supportive, welcoming, and warm culture among our staff and corps members. I'm also looking forward to developing new mental health and wellness initiatives.

A year of service is incredibly meaningful, but I also believe caring for our own well-being is essential so we can continue showing up for our students and communities in the best way possible.

How has your previous experience prepared you for this role?

My previous experiences have given me a strong understanding of both sides of the service experience.

Having served as an AmeriCorps member myself, I understand both the challenges and the incredible growth that come with a year of service. My experience as an academic advisor also gave me the opportunity to support students academically and personally within communities similar to those City Year serves.

I'm excited to bring those experiences into my work with our incoming Student Success Coaches while continuing to learn from them just as much as they may learn from me.

One more thing... What's a fun fact about you?

I'm a huge animal lover! I've had many dogs throughout my life, but I've also had some pretty unique pets, including frogs, a leopard gecko, a praying mantis, a bunny—and even a black widow spider. Looking back, that last one was probably a questionable choice!